Lone jack

I got out there around 9 this morning in hopes of finding some geese or a duck on the lake. I was the only one on the area for much of the morning, and did not see much wildlife.

A thin coat of ice shielded the water's surface from the light breeze and made the lake appear completely still. An occasional small flock of canada geese would fly over and break the silence. one group of 4 birds flew especially low in order to land in the water. As they neared me I set my pack and camera down and raised my gun. I shot only once with #4 steel shot- the lead bird flinched but nothing showed much sign of being hit and so I didnt bother shooting again.

I ventured across a new field today- navigated my way through a few nasty thickets of ivy and locust. I found nothing worth doing that again! Came out into a familiar part of the property and waited on a stump for the birds that I spooked upon bursting out of the locusts. I set everything but my camera down and took off my orange and jacket to advance on the birds. I creeped through the grass until I dared go no further and waited. A large group of not-so-gold goldfinches sat about 20 feet away and I snapped a few shots. Something ruffled behind me and a chickedee's call near deafened me about 3 feet from my ear. I turned around and flushed the little energizer in an attempt to photograph him. Oh well..

A bit further I came out onto a remote cove of the lake. The sun warmed my skin and a duck whipped around the bend before seeing me. I mounted my gun and watched it- it was smaller and flew very quikly. I decided not to shoot in fear that it may be a teal- I shot one last year in duck season on the same cove. I had never shot a duck before, and misidentified the bird that was flying directly at me..oops.

After I summitted the hill that divdes the two hlaves of the area, I shot a large foxsquirrel and herded a flock of some kind of sparrow into a dogwood island. The tiny birds were probably song sparrows- they had streaked breasts, a darker mask and white tuffs under their beaks. Wish I'd gotton a worthy photo.

Saw nothing else that was too exciting- returned to my truck enjoying the warm, sunny weather.